By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelly E. Barnes

USNS Comfort Public Affairs

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (NNS) -- After seeing and treating thousands of patients in 10 countries, hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in Georgetown, Guyana, Sept. 23, continuing its four-month humanitarian assistance deployment.

While in Guyana, U.S. Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Army, Public Health Service, Canadian Forces and non-governmental organization Project Hope will continue to provide the people of Latin America and the Caribbean with health care services, including adult and pediatric primary care, dental care, optometry and other services.

In addition to the medical services the Comfort team will offer, the embarked Naval Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202´s Seabees will work at Dorothy Bailey Health Center and Groves Elementary School, building handrails, installing counters and sinks, installing a fence around the school and painting the health care center.

Comfort will remain in Guyana for nearly a week offering medical services at various locations around Georgetown, including Charity Hospital, Project Dawn Health Care Facility, Georgetown Public Hospital, Groves Elementary School, Cheddi Jagan Dental School, Mahaiconey Community Center.

Project Handclasp, a non-profit organization that works in partnership with the U.S. Navy, will donate three hospital beds, medical supplies, handmade quilts, hospital furniture, teddy bears, and children´s and infant clothing.

"Working with our partner country Guyana in this capacity really strengthens the friendship between our countries," said Capt. Bob Kapcio, Comfort´s mission commander. "The people of Guyana have welcomed us with open arms, and our Comfort team is eager to provide their assistance and help to improve the lives of our partner nation."

Comfort is on a four-month humanitarian deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean providing medical assistance to patients in a dozen countries. The deployment is in support of the U.S. Southern Command´s Partnership for the Americas initiative, strengthening the ties between the United States and partner nations.

For more news from USNS Comfort, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/tah20/.